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Yelich has same approach vs. southpaws

Yelich has same approach vs. southpaws

8/13/13: Christian Yelich knocks a ground-ball single into right to score Jake Marisnick and put the Marlins up, 1-0, in the top of the 10th

By Joe Frisaro
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MLB.com |

MIAMI -- Marlins rookie outfielder Christian Yelich is among the hottest hitters in the National League, entering Sunday batting .349 in August. His 22 hits were tied with San Francisco's Brandon Belt and St. Louis' Matt Carpenter for the sixth most in the National League in the month.

Over the next few days, the left-handed-hitting rookie is about to be severely tested. In four of their next five games, the Marlins will face left-handed starting pitching, including Madison Bumgarner on Sunday.

While Yelich batted .300 in his first 100 MLB at-bats, his splits are dramatically different. Against right-handers, he hit .364, compared to .176 while facing a southpaw.

But Yelich has always been a pure hitter who over time, the team believes, will hit for average regardless of who is on the mound.

His approach to lefties?

"No different if it's lefty or righty, I'm still trying to look for a pitch to hit," he said. "I kind of have the same approach against every guy. I try not to make it any more complicated than that. When you do that, I think it takes you out of your game. If you approach it like, 'It's a lefty, I'm going to do something different here,' it doesn't work."